10 Collector’s Items Of Modern WWE Brilliance

8. The Fight Pit

Sasha Banks
WWE

It's difficult to watch this back in the same enthusiastic, bloodthirsty spirit, but conceptually, this was a stunningly inspired departure from NXT's increasingly parodic melodrama.

This was a full and incredible subversion of that which NXT has failed so miserably over the last year. Ordinarily, WWE imposes itself on its NXT talent, materialising in much staring at hands, catchphrases masquerading as promos, and broken ankles, since the "safe company that won't allow head drops" conflated Dexter Lumis with f*cking Ricochet.

This was NXT using what two great wrestlers are great at, and sprinkling some big-time, creative production over the dynamic. Timothy Thatcher Vs. Matt Riddle in the Fight Pit was the old magic of WWE, or its embers, at least.

The structure of the Fight Pit itself was fantastic; it conveyed the requisite gritty atmosphere, but it loomed big, and unlike previous attempts at gimmicked worked shoots - like the Lion's Den it dated instantly - it was spacious enough to do a great wrestling match within.

And the match was indeed a ripper - a seamless hybrid of convincingly brutal worked shoot grapplef*ck and flamboyant WWE drama - that got Thatcher over.

A triumph.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!